St. Landry democrat., 1887-04-30
r RETRI B U ITO n.
BY "THE DUCHESS"
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
Grant Boyle, his face absolutely livid
comes straight into the center of the
room. The glaring chandelier betrays thu
deadly pallor of his face, the cold CLEAN
in his eyes He has had sufficient time
during the troubled words that passed
between his mother and Nadine, to under
stand that the game has been played out
and lost He might still deny, give oath or
oath, put all to the touc, 1, and defy actual
discovery; but to what end? Who would
believe him innocent among those with
whom he cares to associate, even should
the law absolve him? In the future the
fate Of the outcast, the leper, should be his.
She would be the chief witness for the
prosecutions-she, with her soft voice her
pure eyes, What chance would he have
against her, even though judge and Jury
acquit him? His world would believe in
her And it is this same voice that has
betrayed him-the dearest voice on earth
TO him!
He goes slowly up to the girl who has
ruined him and lays his hand upon her
shoulder. For the moment it seems he
has forgotten that there is any one in the
world but her
'You!-you here?' he says
There is immeasurable surprise but /
anger in his tone; his glance dwells upo-
her lingerngly, tenderly as ever He is
lost in one of the old dreams. 1t is his
last.
"Tell them, entreats Nadine eagerly.
E'They have been imagining dreadful
things. / told them you were returning
10 England soon, but did not know it
would be tonight. Paul, let them know
at onCe-at once-how those stones came
into your possession"
In her extreme anxiety, she lays her
hand upon his arm. Duran makes a move
ment toward her, but Massareene, by
a gesture, stops him.
"YOu still believe in me, then?' says
Boyle, i'll curious tone. "You have had
faith all through? You have never under
stoOd?'
81 do not understand now" cries the
girl nervously. ''Oh what is thi7'" She
shrinks from him and presseo er hand
against her heart. why do you not
gpeak?' she cries again affrightedly.
Zone word will reassure me. Yet you
are silent. How pale you are What hor-
rible thing am | to learn? Lady Valworth
has called you her son. Oh surely that
isl
AhdNhCSS vi blIt VI Lduy VAL
WORTH" interruts he, with short laugh.
"To disown me would have been her wiser
plan"
''What is af,is you say9" cries Nadine,
in low voice, faint horrified ''You do
not deny that you are Grant Boyle?''
NO.
''You are not, then, Paul Annerley?'
That's true"
Nadine staggers back from him, and
presses her hands to her forehead as if in
pain.
And what of this, sir2' demands Sir
Thomas, coming forward
He has lost all his pompousness, his
magisterial air has deserted HIM He looks
Did, distressed, shocked. Every now and
then he glances back to where his wife is
sitting, with her arms thrown upon the
table near her and her head lying hum
bled upon them. He has taken up the
sapphire pendant, and holds it out to
Grant, Boyle upon shaking palm.
'You-did you give this to Miss
Roche?'
miss Roche has said So
] The tone is contemptuous; the glance
that accompanies it rather more so.
s'And-Lady valworth's diamond cross
SAdO tAiio SNAhS looJ HOLC AoSO SoAL.
Sir Thomas voice is even more tremu-
ious now. He would gladly have spared |
"my lady" (as he always fondly calls herr |
this; but it is better the truth should be |
ut once known, if possible.
"I gave that also to Miss Roche
There is a pause, startling because of |
the intensity of the silence that masks it.
1t is broken at last by Grant He bursts
into laughter-light, reckless, defiant.
1.-THE game is up,'' he says. 'Miss
Roche has forged the first link of the |
chain of evidence against me; the rest
should be easily made. shall save you
all trouble by giving you the exact facts
gratis. / took the diamonds. took also
the sapphires. Ha! my pretty cousinI'
burning his handsome head to where Mil
Iicent is standing, and laughing gayly.
'As often as you acted with me in private
you little guessed how well
could sustain part, even difficult one,
4 threw my whole will into it. | must
apologize to you for that handkerchief,
Dy the way / could have wished it were
! finer cne; but an actor must be perfect
,ven in the minor details, and burglar
should not be acquainted with cambric.'
Here Massareene makes dash forward,
Dut is restrained by Duran.
ssLet us hear him out, +" entreats the lat
er wisely.
"Don't waste your superfuous energy
N me, Massareene, says Boyle, lightly.
I'm not good enough
ssKeep it And after all am hardly a
ival. My charming cousin cared for me
g cared for hfr. had no intention
whatsoever of deIriving you of her.
eYou are dnmned scoundrel" says
dassareene, f1inging off Duran, and ad-
,ancing to Boyle, his face white with rage.
ssBeyond doubt replies the other, with
shrug.
ssStand back, Gerald. Why should you
andy words with such as him:" says Miss !